Internal Labor divisions prompt rowdy debate

Kim Stephens

It was debate that triggered a passion to rival that of a State of Origin crowd.

Amid a climate of renewed hopes that a resurgent State Labor will emerge a real threat to the Newman Government next March, it was a new push to change the leadership selection process that prompted the most fiery of debates at the party's annual conference on Saturday.

Members of the Australian Labor Party attend the Qld the Labor State Conference. Photo: Glenn Hunt

While the conference room of the Mercure Hotel at North Quay could have easily been mistaken for Suncorp Stadium, it was not rugby league but internal politics prompting the rowdy divide between the Labor Party's union delegates and branch members.

Bligh Government education minister and 2015 Woodridge candidate Cameron Dick is leading the charge for the leadership selection process to follow that adopted by the party at federal level following the 2013 electoral defeat.

He is pushing for the leadership vote to be split 50:50 between branch members and parliamentary representatives.

However, that model would override that voted on at last year's state conference, in which the voting power would be split three ways between branch members, parliamentary representatives and the union movement.

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Naturally, the dominant union movement did not take well to Mr Dick's proposition on Saturday, using its majority to vote down the motion.

To enthusiastic applause, Member for Bundamba Jo-Ann Miller spoke against the proposition.

"I was sick in the guts when we had a leader of our parliamentary caucus who was there when they brought in privatisation," she said.

"I bet that never would have happened if we had a third.

"This is about fairness, this is about equity, this is about giving our unions their right to have a vote in relation to the parliamentary leader."

Mr Dick said the move was not about excluding the unions from the party but bringing the Queensland party into line with its Federal, New South Wales and Victorian counterparts, which have all adopted the 50:50 model.

"It's not to exclude the unions from the party, as a party member of 25 years standing, I know they play a vital role in our party," he said.

"I think that (the 50:50 model) is the best model and my view is it's going to become the national standard.

"I think it shouldn't be diluted by having a third, a third, a third - that's my view.

"I respect the views of others but I think that's the best thing for our party."

Member for South Brisbane Jackie Trad also spoke in favour of retaining the union vote, in a model that will come into effect following March's election.

"When the Labor Party works together with the Labor movement and works together with the parliamentary Labor Party there is nothing we can't achieve," she said.

"The original model put forward replicates that success that the best leader this party can produce is the leader that has support, that inspires and speaks to every important constituent part of our movement and our party."

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk abstained from the vote, which was defeated 234 votes to 178, but welcomed both the decision and the passion that accompanied the debate.

"This is a broad party and what I have said from day one is I want robust discussion," she said.

"You won't see this in the LNP but what you have seen clearly here today is the ability for all members to have their say and to have that discussion."